Hats off to my co-worker Curt Poff and my editor Jason Snell for telling me about Sealand.
The Principality of Sealand is a micronation (a self-declared, unrecognised state-like entity) that claims as its territory Roughs Tower as well as territorial waters in a twelve nautical mile radius. Roughs Tower is a former Maunsell Sea Fort located in the North Sea six miles (10 km) off the coast of Essex, United Kingdom, at 51° 53′ 40″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ E.
Sealand is occupied by the family and associates of Paddy Roy Bates. The population of the facility rarely exceeds five, and its inhabitable area is 550 m².
Sealand is undoubtedly the world’s best-known micronation, and although its claims to sovereignty and legitimacy are not recongnized by any traditional States, it is nevertheless sometimes cited in debates as an interesting case study of how various principles of international law can be applied to a disputed territory.
It’s now a data haven, run by a company called HavenCo.
It was also written about in Wired magazine back in 2000. Read that piece here.
Awesome.
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